The new Report reveals a significant decrease in the number of owners
protecting their young dogs and cats with primary vaccination courses.
The latest results show that just 75% of dogs (7.0 million) and 65% of
cats (6.7 million) received a primary vaccination course when young.
These are the lowest levels recorded by the Report and compares with 82%
of dogs and 72% of cats in 2011. Furthermore, only 66% of owners (5.6
million cats, 7.3 million dogs, 500,000 rabbits) surveyed in 2017 have
protected their pet with annual booster vaccinations.

Alarmingly, 2.3 million UK dogs (25%) received no vaccinations when they
were young, a significant increase from just 18% in 2011. Cats are also
being left at risk as 3.6 million received no primary vaccination
course – this has increased from 28% in 2011 to 35% in 2017. Rabbit
needs remain the most neglected with only 50% receiving a primary
vaccination when young, a decrease from 63% in 2016, and 55% not
receiving their annual booster vaccinations.

BSAVA President John Chitty, said the trend was a cause for concern for vets.

“The current vaccination levels in dogs, cats and rabbits are far
below the levels expected to provide a ‘herd immunity effect’, with the
consequence that significant reductions in these diseases are further
away, and those pets not vaccinated are at even greater risk.

“In particular, it is deeply worrying to see the fall in vaccinated
rabbits. The recent advances in myxomatosis vaccines mean that it is now
much easier and cheaper to ensure more complete protection of pet
rabbits from what is a common and lethal disease. The advent of RHD-2
virus in the last couple of years also seems to have failed to stimulate
more owners seeking vaccination for their rabbits, especially given the
publicity that this has generated.”

The PAW Report, produced in conjunction with YouGov, has surveyed
more than 63,000 people since 2011, to provide the most robust insight
into the welfare of UK pets.

Commenting on the troubling new findings, PDSA Head of Pet Health and
Welfare, Nicola Martin, said: “The decreasing number of dogs, cats and
rabbits receiving primary and booster vaccinations is a great concern
for the health and welfare of the nation’s pets. Vaccinations protect
pets from infectious diseases, which can severely impact their health,
and can often be fatal. Early immunisation can prevent a long list of
diseases that can affect our companion animals.”

Reasons behind the decrease

Of those surveyed, owners expressed ‘cost’ as one of the top reasons for
failing to vaccinate their pet. Twenty percent of both dog and cat
owners and 10 percent of rabbit owners who hadn’t vaccinated their pets
gave ‘too expensive’ as their reason for not vaccinating.

Nicola adds, “While the latest PAW Report confirms that many of us get
pets for the companionship and love they bring to our lives, it also
highlights many owners continue to misjudge the costs involved in owning
a pet. Despite potential lifetime costs of dog ownership easily rising
to £21,000, the Report revealed 98% of dog owners surveyed estimated
that their dog would cost less than this over the dog’s lifetime. This
shows that the veterinary profession and animal welfare organisations
need to do more to raise awareness of the financial reality of pet
ownership – including preventive care and veterinary treatment – before
owners take on a pet.”

In addition to cost, the Report revealed that, of owners who hadn’t
vaccinated their pets, 14% of dog owners, 22% of cat owners and 32% of
rabbit owners felt vaccinations were unnecessary. 24% of pet owners who
hadn’t vaccinated their pets said that this is because their pet didn’t
come into contact with other pets.

Nicola continues, “These findings show there’s a real lack of knowledge
of the devastating diseases pets are susceptible to if they’re not
protected through vaccination. It’s important we improve vaccination
levels before we face a resurgence of pets suffering with
vaccine-preventable diseases.”